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Microsoft removes support for Windows 7 for some older processors without warning
Microsoft Windows 7 still remains one of the world's most popular desktop operating systems. Currently, the software runs on extended Microsoft support because the main support was removed by the Redmond giant a few years ago. To date, it only receives bug fixes and major security updates. Microsoft will officially end Windows 7 on January 14, 2020. This would mean that there would be no more security updates, product updates, or technical support from Microsoft.
However, it has been reported that Microsoft silently removes its technical support for Windows 7 on older Intel computers despite the promise of business support until 2020. For example, those who have a Pentium III will not be able to more install Win7 Monthly Rollups and Security Updates only This is related to a bug that Redmond seems to ignore, which leads some to believe that Microsoft is killing Windows 7.
Until June 15, Microsoft promised to fix the bug that prevented the installation of Win7 Monthly Rollups and Security-only updates on older pre-SSE2 (Streaming SIMD Extensions 2) machines. For those who do not know it, SSE2 is the SIMD (Streaming Single Instructions Multiple Data) instruction game introduced by Intel with the Pentium 4 and by AMD with its Athlon 64 processors. On June 15 or later, Microsoft has removed the pre-SSE2 population, without warning or explanation, and retroactively modified the documentation to cover its tracks.
The problem started with the March 2018 monthly security update for Windows 7 (KB4088875), which included this warning under "Known Issues":
A Stop error occurs on computers that do not support Streaming Single Instructions Multiple Data (SIMD) 2 extensions (SSE2).
At the time, the company accepted the problem and said that "Microsoft is working on a resolution and will provide an update in a future release." However, users have encountered the same problem in the security update only for March as well as both the monthly rollup and security fixes only for April and May 2018. Even KB article KB 4284826 in June and security article KB 4284867 before June 15 included the old text on "Microsoft is working on a resolution and will provide an update in an upcoming release."
Apparently, Microsoft on or after June 15, the Redmond giant has continued to change both the monthly rollup and the security update only, as demonstrated in KB4088875, which says:
Upgrade your machines with a processor that supports SSE2 or virtualize these machines.
In other words, this means that Microsoft will not solve the problem through a fix via Windows Update.
This decision by Microsoft could leave users of Windows 7 furious, given that the company had promised to support Windows 7 until 2020. If you are one of those who still use Pentium III hardware, it is probably time to update your machine or Buy a new one.
Source: Computer World via Neowin
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